The Michigan Public Service Commission deferred action on Enbridge Energy LP’s application seeking approval for the replacement of a pipeline segment under the Straits of Mackinac while it considers whether new siting authority is required to build the portion, according to an April 22 news release. Enbridge sought a declaratory ruling that it already has…...
Amid the economic downturn ensuing from the pandemic, state utility regulators are faced with the challenging task of protecting customers from power shutoffs while also considering costs incurred by utilities. A growing number of state commissions are directing utilities to establish a regulatory asset account to capture and track COVID-19-related incremental costs.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 16 approved Rover Pipeline LLC’s proposal to increase its mainline capacity by 175 million cubic feet per day, for a total mainline capacity of 3.425 Bcf per day. The Rover Pipeline is a 713-mile natural gas pipeline designed to transport 3.25 Bcf per day of domestically produced natural…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 16 issued a final rule concluding that it is not appropriate and necessary to regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants, rescinding a 2016 supplemental cost finding that formed the basis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS. The agency said that…...
The volatile situation created by the COVID-19 spread has prompted state utility commissions to respond with new directives and guidance on a number of proceedings. Regulators have responded with various measures, including suspending service disconnections, transitioning to virtual meetings, and delaying rate cases.
The U.S. electric power sector will add 19.4 gigawatts of wind capacity and 12.6 gigawatts of utility-scale solar capacity in 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook issued on April 7. These annual wind and solar capacity additions are 5 percent and 10 percent lower, respectively, compared to the previous report. Renewable…...
Democratic Governor Ralph Northam on April 6 signed legislation that requires utilities seeking to recover the cost of a natural gas capacity contract to prove that they need the fuel capacity to maintain reliable service and that it is the lowest-cost available option. The law requires utilities to first demonstrate that they cannot maintain reliable…...
Xcel Energy Inc. will sell the Mankato Energy Center, a 760-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant, to Denver-based Southwest Generation, according to an April 6 filing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Xcel purchased the facility from Southern Power for $650 million in January through a non-regulated affiliate after Minnesota regulators rejected the company’s earlier proposal…...
The U.S. Energy Department plans to announce a funding opportunity for energy storage technologies that can improve the performance, reliability, and flexibility of fossil-fueled power generating facilities, according to an April 7 news release. The department expects co-location of energy storage with fossil energy assets to enable multiple benefits, including more reliable and affordable energy supply,…...
The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management announced a proposal to offer 45 parcels of land, totaling about 67,244 acres located on Jackson, Las Animas, Rio Blanco, and Weld Counties, at the September quarterly oil and gas lease sale, according to a Mar. 31 news release. The agency is seeking public input on issues…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 26 announced a temporary policy relaxing its enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy gives more flexibility to power plants and other regulated entities on pollution control measures in a time of crisis. The measure allows the noncompliance as long as the entity provides…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 19 conditionally approved the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas export project and the associated Pacific Connector pipeline in Oregon. The approval is conditioned on the project qualifying for state permits, but Oregon regulators have declined several key regulatory approvals. The LNG terminal would be located in Coos County,…...